American Horror Story

This intense horror anthology series changes themes each season while keeping many of the same actors.

Watch ... if you enjoy being frightened and disgusted. The mood is a mix of dark and dangerous with kitschy and fun, but there is gore galore here. Each iteration is set in a different location and time — “Murder House,” “Asylum,” “Coven,” “Freak Show” and “Hotel” — which prevents the series from ever getting too boring. Many actors, particularly Sarah Paulson, Jessica Lange, Denis O’Hare and Evan Peters, continue from season to season (Lange was absent from Season 5’s “Hotel”) and it’s fun to watch them try on different personalities.

Skip ... if you don’t like scary or gory shows. This series is legitimately creepy and violent.

How To Watch It

It’s hard to skip entire seasons, but if you were going to pick one to pass over “Freak Show” would be it. It has its moments, but it can often be boring, and some of the bad guys don’t stick around long enough to make the season interesting. Fast-forward to the end of the Season 4 premiere to see Lange’s stunning performance of David Bowie’s “Life on Mars,” and watch Episodes 10 and 12 to see how they connect the rest of the franchise. Start from the beginning and take it slow. Don’t exceed three episodes at a time if you want to keep the nightmares at bay.